Friday, November 13, 2009

Consumer Confidence Drops

The Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers said its preliminary index of sentiment for November fell to 66.0, the lowest level since August, from 70.6 in October. This was well below economists' median expectation of a reading of 71.0, according to a Reuters poll.

"Importantly, the decline in confidence was already in place before the announced increase in the unemployment rate to 10.2 percent on November 6," the Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers said in a statement, adding "the likelihood that the sentiment index would drift even lower in the months ahead cannot be easily dismissed."

Within the survey, the 12-month economic outlook fell to its lowest since April.

Here is the chart:

We have two months of declines and a third is probably on the way. These are not good developments especially with the holiday shopping season already underway.